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The USS Hornet may be a decommissioned aircraft carrier, yet it has nevertheless become the launch-site for a controversial new war in the skies. The Marine Cloud Brightening Program's Coastal Atmospheric Aerosol Research and Engagement project, led by researchers from the University of Washington, took to the deck of the Hornet Tuesday to launch streams of particles into the sky above the San Francisco Bay. Their ultimate objective is apparently to block and reflect sunlight in hopes of limiting "global warming." CAARE researchers behind the geoengineering scheme opted not to announce their experiment, reportedly citing concerns that there might be...

Ed Husain's autobiography The Islamist: why I joined radical Islam in Britain, what I saw inside and why I left (Penguin, 2007) is a remarkably candid account of the life of a British-born Muslim who was initially seduced by radicalism but gradually came to his senses to return to the more spiritual and devotional Islam that had defined his early years. It is also an important work, in that it both carefully grounds the issue of radicalisation that has so dominated recent intellectual and political discussion of Muslim communities in Britain, and points to potential solutions. Ed Husain grew up...

Britain’s biggest Islamic authorities believe that child sexual abuse within the Muslim community is “underreported” because it is a “taboo subject”. The Muslim Women’s Network (MWN) presented written testimony to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) stating that the “scale of the problem is hidden” because victims are “forced” into silence. The inquiry also received written testimony from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) stating it thinks cases are “underreported… due to cultural issues and stigma”. All religious organizations are being investigated by IICSA, which was set up by the British government in 2014 following the Jimmy Savile...

The long-running dispute revolves — most recently — around an effort by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims, a cross-party formation of around two-dozen MPs in the British Parliament, to institutionalize the definition of Islamophobia in racial rather than religious terms. The proposed definition has been opposed by many Britons, including British Muslims, who warn that it would effectively shield Islam from scrutiny and valid criticism. "We have here a clash between two very different ways of viewing a society: broadly individualism and collectivism.... In a collectivist society the aim is for the rulers to determine how...

Mosques across Britain are planning to open their doors to the public in a bid to counter negative stereotypes about Muslims next week, against a backdrop of rising Islamophobia. Organised by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), more than 80 mosques will participate in the "Visit my mosque" day on February 7 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. "It's an opportunity for Muslims in the UK to put themselves out there and reach out to their local neighbours," an MCB spokesman told Al Jazeera. "The day will allow for people to meet face-to-face, get to know each other and...

SNIPPET: "Dr. Zakir Naik is a 44 year-old Muslim preacher born in India. He has gained a significant international following by establishing a satellite television network, Peace TV, which promotes Wahhabi Islam; it is based in Mumbai/Bombay, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, and has a supporting organization, the Islamic Research Foundation. Naik has mainly broadcast his message in English as well as Urdu. But Peace TV is an ambitious enterprise that now aims at Albanian Muslims, among others. Zakir Naik is distinguished by one characteristic: incitement of provocative disdain for any other Muslims than Wahhabis and Pakistani jihadists, as well as...

The bizarre story behind the construction of Boston's most controversial building

Muslim groups are preparing to stage a demonstration outside Downing Street after what they describe as a week of "bias, prejudice, xenophobia and even borderline racism". It has been organised by the British Muslim Initiative (BMI) and supported by 20 other Muslim groups including the Muslim Council of Britain and British Muslim Forum. Muslim groups are calling for equal rights under the slogan: Yes to equal citizenship, No to double standards. The BMI have said the demonstration is a response to the past week's events including the controversy provoked by the Archbishop of Canterbury's comments that adoption of some aspects...

Despite the boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day by England's main Muslim organization, some Islamic groups have decided to commemorate the day. In London on Saturday, City Circle, a network of young Muslim professionals, will join with the Holocaust Educational Trust to remember the victims of the Holocaust and other more recent genocides. On Tuesday, meanwhile, Muslim and Jewish young professionals will together hear the firsthand testimony of Holocaust survivor Trude Levi and Rwandan genocide survivor Jean Mazimpaka. Dr. Ger Duijzings, a specialist on East European Studies, will also mae comments, with a particular focus on the Kosovo crisis, while Prof....

A senior Anglican bishop has accused many Muslims of being guilty of double standards in their view of the world. The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, told the Sunday Times some had a "dual psychology" in which they sought "victimhood and domination". The Muslim Council of Britain said the comments were "not very helpful". The bishop, whose father converted from Islam, also said situations such as teaching could require Muslim women not to wear full-face veils. Mr Nazir-Ali argued it would never be possible to satisfy all of the demands made by Muslims because "their complaint often boils down...

A senior Anglican bishop has accused many Muslims of being guilty of double standards in their view of the world. The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, told the Sunday Times some had a "dual psychology" in which they sought "victimhood and domination". The Muslim Council of Britain said the comments were "not very helpful". The bishop, whose father converted from Islam, also said situations such as teaching could require Muslim women not to wear full-face veils. Mr Nazir-Ali argued it would never be possible to satisfy all of the demands made by Muslims because "their complaint often boils down to...

Briton backs imam in 'uncovered meat' rowFrom Bernard Lagan in Sydney ONE of Britain's most senior Muslims has defended as "a great scholar" the Australian imam who likened scantily clad women to uncovered meat that draws predators. Abduljalil Sajid, a senior figure in the Muslim Council of Britain, offered support for Sheikh Taj Din al-Hilali's views, saying that "loose women like prostitutes" encouraged men to be immoral. Dr Sajid, visiting Australia, said that Sheikh al-Hilali was attacking immodesty and loose dress, or "standing in the streets, inviting men to do these bad acts". Although the Australian cleric did not use...

Trafalgar Square will be hosting celebrations to mark the Muslim festival of Eid. Live entertainment, a street bazaar and exhibitions and displays will feature at the free event which is taking place between 1300 and 1700 BST. The event has been organised by the Muslim Council of Britain and the Mayor of London. Eid marks the end of Ramadan - the month of fasting observed by millions of Muslims worldwide.

With exemplary tact and exquisite timing, the ‘leader’ of Britain’s Muslims chose the eve of the fifth anniversary of 9/11 to warn that we are facing the threat of two million home-grown Islamic terrorists. The preposterous, self-aggrandising ‘secretary-general’ of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Muhammad Abdul Bari, predicted an angry backlash against what he perceives as widespread ‘Islamophobia’ in this country. To be honest, I did wonder whether it was worth even dignifying this garbage with a reaction, especially when it comes from a man who appears to wear a ginger wig with a grey beard. But someone’s got...

BBC rejects Muslim attack on Panorama By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor (Filed: 01/10/2005) The BBC hit back angrily yesterday at Muslim criticism of a Panorama documentary that accused the community's leading body of doing too little to confront extremism. Mike Robinson, the programme's editor, issued a rebuttal to a complaint by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) that the production was "dishonestly presented", "mischievously edited" and intended to malign "without regard for the facts". The MCB also called A Question of Leadership, made by John Ware, "a shoddy and Islamophobic piece of work which will contribute to furthering distrust"....

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Sept. 8, 2005 – Military families received free back-to-school supplies at Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School here Aug. 24, thanks to a donation from a local business. The donation came just in time - five days before students returned to Camp Pendleton’s schools for the 2005-2006 school year. Camp Pendleton’s Office Depot donated 725 backpacks filled with school supplies to Mary Fay Camp Pendleton Elementary students. In addition to the backpacks, the school received office chairs, two pallets of paper, four pallets of cardboard tubes, 10 cases of toilet paper and 10 cases of facial tissue. Office...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 20, 2005) -- Members of the Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Management Division joined a group of Boy Scouts from the base’s Troop 490 and Jacksonville’s Troop 597 to take part in an environmental awareness project aboard the base Aug. 20. As the final stage in becoming an Eagle Scout, Daniel Griffith, the project leader, designed, organized and executed the mission in an effort to increase public awareness of the dangers of pollution in regards to storm drains and water run-off. The project has created publicity on the subject through the utilization of mass media...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2005) -- When a Marine cleans up after a chaotic combat tour and returns stateside, the American public stands in awe at the heroic things he accomplished. However, the Marine sees it as another day on the job. This is the case with 1st Lt. Andrew P. Thomas, who served as platoon commander, 4th platoon, small craft company, 1st Marine Division, who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal July 8 for his actions during an attack on the riverbanks of Ramadi. Recalling one of the more prominent events that...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2005) -- Cpl. Mike Anderson, G-5 Marine Air Ground Task Force plans non-commissioned officer-in-charge, II Marine Expeditionary Force has helped coordinate the deployment of more than 30,000 Marines and sailors in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. However, once the service members leave for deployment, Anderson and his family don’t leave them out to dry. Rich Lane, Anderson’s uncle and founder of Treats and Letters From America Incorporated not for profit, sends homemade beef jerky and letters to II MEF Marines, sailors, and any other service member who asks for...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 5, 2005) -- The average day of a Marine deployed to a combat zone is anything but average. As the Global War on Terrorism rages on, Marines find themselves facing tough situations and decisions on a daily basis. With the lives of fellow Marines on the line, the ultimate goal is to return Marines home alive. Gunnery Sgt. Gordon R. Hill Jr. of Los Fresnos, Texas was awarded the Bronze Star medal with combat distinguishing device for Valor here, Aug. 5, for his actions taken while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom...